Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91363 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91363 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHER, “IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME”
Gabby
“Hey! Merry Christmas,” Matt said, coming out of the bathroom just as I opened my bedroom door.
“Why did you tell Isaac about that thing that happened between us?” I wasted no time with pleasantries.
Matt chuckled. “That thing?”
I rolled my eyes. “Don’t play dumb.”
“He’d been on my case about you, and no matter how hard I’d tried to convince him we’re just friends, he didn’t believe me. So when Ben’s name came up, I thought mentioning that thing might get my brother to back off.”
“Thanks.” I crossed my arms over my chest. “It was nice of you to sacrifice me so that Isaac doesn’t interrogate you. Now I’m the one getting grilled with questions from Sarah.”
“What did you tell her? Did you deny it?”
“I told her we didn’t sleep together, but then I told her I slept with Ben.” For some reason, I wanted no one to know about that because if my dad found out, he would be disappointed beyond words. On the other hand, I wanted to tell everyone because I felt different, like an adult who did adult things instead of a wannabe who didn’t have enough experience to sit at the grown-up table.
Matt scratched the back of his head and offered a smile that looked almost bashful. “Wow. Okay. Thanks for sharing that.”
Pressing my lips together, I pinched the bridge of my nose. Perhaps I wasn’t correct about what it meant to sit with the grown-ups. Thinking back to Sarah’s reaction to my questions, I backtracked and came to the brilliant conclusion that intimacy and privacy went hand in hand. My sister Eve was an outlier who loved talking openly about sex, but most normal people preferred to keep their intimacy private.
“Maybe forget I said that,” I mumbled.
“I’ll forget you said that if you forget about the bathroom incident the night Julianne and I broke up.”
I glanced up, and Matt scrunched his nose. “Deal.” I nodded.
“Thanks. And for what it’s worth, I’m happy for you and Ben. But I’m sorry he’s going through something so awful.”
“There is no Ben and me because he’s going through this, and he doesn’t want me as his girlfriend or even his friend. I don’t know.” With a deep, shaky breath, I willed myself to keep from crying.
Matt gave me a sad smile. “Sorry, Gabby. It’s his loss.”
Since having sex with Ben, I didn’t think Matt could make me blush. I thought the intimacy we shared erased the crush I had on Matt. But after Ben broke my heart less than twenty-four hours earlier, said heart clung to Matt’s words like a lifeline.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
I liked how Matt looked at me. It was honest and comforting, and I knew I would never regret crushing on him.
“If Ben’s the one, fight for him.”
“How do I know?” I averted my gaze. “I thought you were the one.”
“Then you said Ben’s name when that thing almost happened.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Stop smiling at each other. Put your dick back in your pants,” Isaac said, reaching the top of the stairs.
I blushed not only at his crude comment, but I couldn’t help but wonder if Sarah told him I saw them.
“It won’t fit. Some of us don’t have little pecker syndrome.” Matt smirked at Isaac.
“Uh … I need to shower,” I murmured, scurrying into the bathroom.
After breakfast and gift-opening where Isaac and Sarah watched Matt and me like we were going to strip and have sex right in front of everyone, I headed to Ben’s house to give him the journal and antique fountain pen.
“Merry Christmas, Gabriella,” Alan said, opening the door. “Come in.”
“Thanks. Merry Christmas. Here,” I handed him a plate of cookies, “my mom sent these.”
“They look amazing. Tell her thank you. I think Carmen has something for your family as well. So check with her before you leave. Tillie and Ben are in the back room playing darts.”
“Thanks.” I slipped off my shoes and hung up my coat before heading to the bonus family room at the back of the house that they added the winter before our graduation. There was a pool table, two leather sofas, and a big screen TV.
Tillie spied me first and smiled, but it wasn’t her usual exuberant smile. “Hey, Merry Christmas,” she said.
Ben threw a dart, then glanced over his shoulder. Tillie pinched his arm and pointed upstairs. Then she stopped on her way out of the room and handed me her darts. “You can finish for me.”
I nodded, giving her a smile, but she only managed a weak one in return. After setting the darts on the edge of the pool table, I handed the present to Ben and signed, “Merry Christmas.”
He stared at it. “I didn’t get you a gift,” he murmured without an ounce of regret to his words.